The Nike Sabrina 3 "Big Ellie" releases Monday, May 25 through Nike.com and select retailers at $135 retail ($102 GS). The colorway — style code HF2881-303 — is a tribute to Ellie the Elephant, the New York Liberty mascot whose Instagram following has outpaced every WNBA player not named Caitlin Clark over the past two seasons.
The shoe
A black and grey upper sits under mint-green accents on the laces, a diamond-plated Swoosh, and the forefoot section of the midsole. A black-and-white swirl pattern runs across the midsole and pulls from the Liberty's home uniforms; teal heel detailing and a white tongue with a black logo complete the team palette. The "Big Ellie" name and the green accents directly reference Ellie's costume.
The Ellie context
This is not an official Liberty or Ellie collab, but Nike has been quietly working Ellie into Ionescu's marketing for two seasons. The 2025 Nike By You Sabrina 2 included a "Big Ellie" custom option that became one of the most-built configurations on the customizer; the Sabrina 3 "Twin" Champions tied Ionescu's signature line to the Liberty's back-to-back title run. Putting Ellie on the lateral side pushes a WNBA mascot into the retail territory normally reserved for player likenesses.
The WNBA season frame
The Liberty open the 2026 WNBA season this week. "Big Ellie" hits the day before opening night — timing that lines the shoe up to be visible on a national broadcast within 48 hours of its retail debut. Ionescu has worn variants of the Sabrina 3 all preseason; expect this to be the on-court pair for the opener.
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